Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has challenged Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s claim that the Government created 15,000 jobs, pointing to Central Statistical Office (CSO) figures showing employment fell by almost 6,000 in the first quarter of 2026.

Beckles, speaking at the Opposition’s weekly news conference in Port of Spain yesterday, said CSO data showed employment declined by 5,900 between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, while the unemployment rate increased from 4.3% to 5.4%.

She said women bore the brunt of the decline, with female employment falling during the period.